Winter sports resorts report records over the festive period

Perfect conditions prevailed in practically all winter sports regions in Switzerland over Christmas and the turn of the year. "It was the best festive season in the past ten years," said Peter Reinle, Head of Marketing at Titlis Bergbahnen in Central Switzerland, on Sunday when asked by the Keystone-SDA news agency.

The first few days of January were also very well attended, although concrete figures will not be available until the end of the year. The region recorded 110,000 guests throughout December. According to Reinle, this is four percent more than in the previous year and 13 percent more than the five-year average.

Reinle cites the excellent snow conditions and the "fantastic weather" at high altitude with fog in the lowlands as reasons: "It was blue above and gray below." The festive days were also ideal. This allowed winter sports enthusiasts and sun-seekers to sacrifice just a few vacation days for a long bridge.

Sunbathing instead of shivering

Eastern Switzerland is also satisfied. According to Katja Wildhaber, around 13,000 guests flocked to the Flumserberg ski area in the canton of St. Gallen over three days. "This density is very special," said the marketing manager of the mountain railroads on request.

Although there were only sixty centimetres of snow at an altitude of 2000 meters, the conditions on the slopes were impressive thanks to artificial snowmaking. Around a third of the slopes on Flumserberg can be covered with snow. According to Wildhaber, sunshine and mild temperatures also meant that guests were able to enjoy the days without having to shiver.

Also on foot in the glacier area

The Glacier 3000 region in the Bernese Oberland can also look back on a strong festive season. The number of guests was the same as last year, said Glacier 3000 boss Bernhard Tschannen on request. Despite good natural snow and the area being fully open, the lifts still had capacity, said Tschannen.

The reason for this is that, due to its altitude, the area is particularly popular when conditions are worse down below. In recent days, however, winter sports enthusiasts have also found good conditions in Gstaad or Les Diablerets, so that the rush has been better spread out. Forty percent of guests in the glacier area were pedestrians, says Tschannen. The area does not communicate specific figures.

11 percent more guests in Graubünden

The Graubünden mountain railroads had already announced record-breaking figures for the festive season balance sheet on Tuesday - albeit with restraint. This is because, as is well known, the accounts are only settled at the end of the season. Nevertheless, the mountain railroads were able to make significant gains by the end of the year.

Compared to the previous year, guest numbers rose by 11.1% and transport turnover by 9.2% thanks to the glorious weather and excellent piste conditions. In a comparison of the past five years, turnover even increased by almost thirty percent. The Bergbahnen Graubünden monitor comprises 23 companies or ninety percent of Graubünden's transport turnover.

History in Valais

Anzère in Valais even reported a "historic record". Over 5000 guests flocked to the area on each of the four days, said Sébastien Travelletti, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Télé Anzère, when asked by Keystone-SDA. The previous record was 4800, set last winter. Anzère also set a daily record: on December 30, 5700 winter sports enthusiasts made their way up the mountain.

Verbier in Valais has also seen a rush and an increase for three years in a row. Laurent Vaucher did not provide specific figures when asked. However, the director of Téléverbier reports excellent snow conditions and lifts that have all been open since mid-December. (SDA)